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No School Thursday and Friday -- Parent Conferences
This week parents, teachers and students conference to track academic progress. There is no school Thursday and Friday.
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Board approves M&O levy election date
School board members approved Tuesday, February 19 as the election date for the 2008 replacement Maintenance and Operations Levy.
The voter approved 2004 M&O Levy, which passed at 67.4%, expires in December 2008 and this four-year Levy would replace it. The cost for this replacement levy is similar to what Walla Walla property owners are currently paying.
Summary of Proposal
2009 - $8,278,000 (projected rate $3.42 per $1,000)
2010 - $8,828,000 (projected rate $3.56 per $1,000)
2011 - $9,378,000 (projected rate $3.69 per $1,000)
2012 - $9,978,000 (projected rate $3.83 per $1,000)
What do school levies pay for?
Local levies support school needs. Our levy pays for approximately 14 percent of the District’s operating budget. In Walla Walla, the M&O levy helps to support:
• approximately 30 teachers
• approximately 50 non-certificated staff
• school safety staff & technology
• elementary PE & music specialists
• health clinicians & library-media specialists
• elementary physical education specialists
• school supplies & building maintenance
• extra-curricular (athletics, music, drama, FFA and more)
• transportation for school activities
More information will be coming out to staff and the community later this fall.
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Wa-Hi Drama Department fall play opens this week
This fall students involved in Walla Walla High School’s THEATRE ARTS PROGRAM are working on two plays, “Courtship” and “1918” in Horton Foote’s Orphans’ Home Cycle, a nine play epic.
Show dates:
November 8, 9, 10 (7 p.m.)
November 15, 16 (7 p.m.)
November 17 (2 p.m.)
Horton Foote has been called “The Supreme Musician” of American playwrights, along with Tennessee Williams. The plays take place in small town, turn of the century Texas, and are loosely based on Foote’s own family. Never vulgar, but plumbing the depths of human experience through humor and tragedy, themes that flow throughout the piece are love, forgiveness, honor and sorrow. At its center is a love story and an exploration of the intricacies of family life. Tickets are $8 adults and $6 for seniors & students.
Please call the ticket office at 526-8613 for reserved seating.
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General Election Results Summary
Simple Majority — House Resolution 4204
Washington State
51.87% - Rejected
48.12% - Approved
WW County
61.68% - Rejected
38.32% - Approved
Walla Walla School Board of Directors
School Board Election (Position 3)
Jim Lehmann: 2,228 votes - 53.70%
Roger Bairstow: 1,898 votes - 45.75%
School Board Election (Position 4)
Max E Carrera, Jr: 3,556 votes - 97.61%
School Board Election (Position 5)
Anne Golden: 3,772 votes - 97.64%
College Place School Board of Directors
School Board Election (Position 1)
Kim Doepker: 1,098 votes - 99.08%
School Board Election (Position 3)
William L. Armstrong: 562 votes - 51.75%
Tad Willis: 519 votes - 47.79%
School Board Election (Position 5)
Marci Knauft: 725 votes - 60.62%
Vincent Jimenez: 468 votes - 39.13%
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Exchange Club donates Freedom Shrine to Garrison
The Exchange Club of Walla Walla is doing its part to support Walla Walla schools. This week the Exchange Club presented Garrison Middle School with a Freedom Shrine -- an impressive, permanently mounted collection of 30 of the most important and historic American documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address.
Exchange Club President Ron Coffell of Cascade Natural Gas presented the award to the school. Former Walla Walla Regional Airport Manager and decorated Marine Pilot Larry Adams spoke to students about the price Americans have paid for freedom as part of a Veterans Day celebration organized by Administrative Intern Chris Blackman.
The Freedom Shrine is mounted near the entrance of the school.
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Wa-Hi FFA teams compete at national event
The Wa-Hi FFA Chapter recently had a great run at the National FFA Convention according to advisor Arch McHie.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support,” McHie said. “The National Convention set another record this year as the largest youth gathering in the world. There were 58,000 people associated with the FFA in Indianapolis.”
Wa-Hi’s Agrimarketing Team of Dane Swenson, Corben Ketelsen and Grant Robison placed 5th in a field of 24 teams. The Floriculture Team of Danielle Weber, Brittany Bachtold, Haley Schneidmiller and Abby Reid placed 13th in a field of 45 teams. Danielle placed 20th overall individually. There were 170 contestants.
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Local band includes Wa-Hi Library technician’s song on cd
Wa-Hi Library Technician Malinda Pankl wrote a song titled “Blackberry Mountain” that has been included on a CD made by the local band, “Feels Like Home.” The song can be heard on the web featuring Trudy Ostby on fiddle.
“I’ve been writing jigs, reels and waltzes for contra dances for a number of years,” Pankl said. “It’s lots of fun to see the dancers enjoying the tunes. Having another band besides the ones I play with record one of my tunes is a very nice surprise.”
Pankl’s band “The Reel Fling” has a CD out titled “Scot’s Bonny” and a new one in the works, titled “Bramble Soup,” which feature traditional and original Celtic tunes according to Pankl. She also said there is also a new local band named “Agua Agua” that features the Spanish bagpipes and plays Celtic music from Asturias. Besides the bagpipe, there are two drummers and Pankl on fiddle.
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Personnel Report (from 11/6/07 school board meeting)
• New Hires
(Certificated) Suzann Rose, Dyslexia Teacher, Special Programs
(Classified) Ron Amen, Custodian, Various Locations
Norma Mata, Para-Educator, Green Park
• Resignations/Retirements
(Classified) Jonathan Bogle, Para-Educator, Wa-Hi, 2 years
• Leave of Absence
(Classified) Denise Ongers, Para-Educator, Lincoln Alternative, 10 years
• Denise will serve as Assistant Secretary at Lincoln for the 2007-08 school year
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Walla Walla Public Schools psychologists receive state award
Congratulations to the Walla Walla Public Schools Special Programs Department for recently receiving the School Psychology Services Award from the Washington Association of School Psychologists. The award was presented at the annual conference in Spokane earlier this month.
This is an award given to school districts which exemplify effective School Psychology, practice in assessment intervention, consultation, education supervision, or research and evaluation.
“We have an outstanding team and they deserve this award,” Special Programs Director Laura Droke said. “They work extremely hard and they truly care about children and families.”
Walla Walla Public Schools has six School Psychologists and two interns:
- Maria Garcia
- Kim Butenhoff
- Heather Strader
- Peggy Tierney
- Alicia Quakenbush
- Pam Amo
- Annie Boyd
- Tracy Khan (Intern)
- Emma Northrup (Intern)
The following was the letter used to nominate Walla Walla Public Schools:
“I am proud to nominate Laura Droke from Walla Walla Public Schools and her entire staff of school psychologists. I am the only school psychologist from a neighboring district. Laura and her team of psychologists have committed to inviting me to their monthly school psychologist meetings and involving me in professional development opportunities. As an outsider looking in, I have been extraordinarily impressed with their professionalism, compassion, expertise, creativity, and humor. This group provides exemplary models for child and family advocacy. They walk the line between district demands and family needs with grace and reason. Their support for one another’s growth in the field is also to be commended.
“Walla Walla has been on the front line for their efforts at implementing Tier intervention systems. They are willing to take the risks involved to explore innovative practices. In addition, they provide many special programs to meet the needs of the students in their district. Their willingness to share ideas, tools, and themselves has been invaluable. We share many students as our families move back and forth between our districts. Working with this group has always been a pleasure. They work to ensure that when a family transitions between school districts, there is no disruption of special education services.
“I am sure there are many more things about this group of which I am not aware that would make them deserving of this award. Public recognition for their exemplary work in the field of school psychology is overdue.”
Linda Byerley, School Psychologist
College Place Public Schools
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Garrison Night School Conversational Spanish Class scheduled
Registration has begun for Garrison Night School Conversational Spanish class. The fee for the Spanish class is $246.90 and is offered for 3 credits through Walla Walla Community College. Classes begin Monday, November 26, 2007, and end Thursday, February 28, 2008. Spanish for native English speakers will be taught on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. Register now at Walla Walla Community College or at Garrison Middle School Monday, Nov. 19, and Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Garrison Night School is an adult education program offered in a partnership between Walla Walla Community College and the Walla Walla Public Schools. Classes are held at Garrison Middle School (906 Chase St.) in Walla Walla. Additional classes offered this year include General Education Diploma (GED) preparation, four levels of English as a Second Language (ESL), and a Job Psychology class. Traffic Safety is offered from 5 to 6 p.m. as well as Citizenship and “How to Start Your Own Business in Washington State.”
A $25 registration fee which covers all classes taken is required for the GED, ESL, citizenship, traffic safety, job psychology and how to start a business in Washington classes. Some scholarships are available as is free child care.
The mission of Garrison Night School is to promote the education of Hispanic parents by connecting them to the school community, preparing them for a General Education Diploma and facilitating their enrollment in college, thus raising the educational level and standard of living of the family.
For additional information regarding the Garrison Night School, contact Program Coordinator Esteban Florian at (509) 527-3040 or by e-mail at eflorian@wwps.org.
Program Location – Garrison Night School is located at 906 Chase Street.
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Kelly Hutcherson Benefit scheduled
A soup and bread meal and silent auction is being organized to benefit parent Kelly Hutcherson and her family as they deal with her illness. Hutcherson has a 9th grade student at Wa-Hi and a 7th grade student at Pioneer Middle School.
“These boys are great kids and the teachers love them!” said Pioneer Para-educator Kelli Jo Smith who is helping organize the benefit. Kelly also has a son that is 26 years old and disabled. There will be many items to bid on including fishing and hunting trips. Funds raised will enable the Hutchersons to spend a family vacation in Hawaii.
To donate auction items contact Terri Hanson at 525-2482 or Kelli Jo Smith at 522-6813.
When: Saturday, November 10
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Blue Mountain Community Church (928 Sturm Ave. -- Walla Walla)
Cost: $5 per person or $20 per family
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